What CTS Corporation does

CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS), headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, designs and manufactures sensors, actuators, and electronic components for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers in aerospace & defense, medical, industrial, transportation, off-highway, data center, and robotics markets. The company's product portfolio spans frequency control devices (quartz crystals, clock oscillators, OCXOs, TCXOs, VCXOs), piezoelectric components and HIFU transducers, current sensors (including clamp-on sensors integrated with Melexis IMC-Hall technology), position sensors, temperature sensors (thermistors, probes), mechanical and optical encoders, switches, accelerator pedals and foot controls, RF filters (band-pass, duplexers, low-pass with 350+ standard products), and passives. Approximately 30-40 word company description focus: CTS designs and manufactures sensors, actuators, and electronic components for OEMs across aerospace & defense, medical, industrial, transportation, and data center markets globally.

CTS operates a vertically integrated manufacturing model — branded "Powder to Platform" for ceramic RF filters — supported by 40+ years of ceramic expertise and 60+ years of piezoelectric experience, dating back to its role as one of the first companies to commercialize quartz crystals for electronics in 1942. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, and AEC-Q200 (Revision E, March 2023) certifications, with select OCXO products compliant to Stratum 3E per GR-1244-CORE. Notable technical differentiators include the TSX Crystal with Integrated Thermistor (the first crystal product to embed a thermistor for real-time temperature feedback, 16 MHz to 285 MHz in 2520 down to 1612 SMD packages), the Series 552 contacting accelerator pedal with 3% linearity and EMI immunity (150 million+ units delivered across the pedal portfolio), and clamp-on current sensors accurate to within 1% up to 200 A.

Revenue is generated through B2B hardware sales via direct enterprise sales for OEM programs and a global distributor and sales-representative network spanning North America, Europe (Switzerland, Poland, Germany), and Asia (China, Japan). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The diversification strategy is shifting revenue mix toward industrial, medical, aerospace, and defense markets, which collectively reached approximately 59% of total revenue in FY2025, with aerospace & defense growing at a 14.7% CAGR since 2022 and medical growing 41% year over year. FY2025 revenue was $541 million (+5% YoY); Q1 2026 sales were $139.2 million (+10.7% YoY) and management has guided FY2026 revenue to $550-580 million.

Name

CTS Corporation

Legal name

CTS Corporation

Website

https://ctscorp.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CTS Corporation designs and manufactures sensors, actuators, and electronic components for OEM customers in aerospace & defense, medical, industrial, transportation, and data center markets globally. Headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia, the company generated $541 million in FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Components

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive ECUs/Control Modules & Embedded Electronics Manufacturing (IMACAJAC), Sensors & Instrumentation Electronics Manufacturing Services (Transmitters, analyzers, industrial sensors) (IMAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Sensor components manufacturing
• Electronic sensing devices
• Frequency control products
• Piezoelectric transducers
• Automotive electronic components

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sensors: CTS manufactures and sells various sensors including temperature sensors, position sensors, current sensors, and encoders to OEM customers in aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and transportation markets. Revenue is generated through product sales with no specific recurring component mentioned.
2. Actuators: Actuators including pedals and foot controls sold to automotive and industrial OEMs. The company reports actuator sales as part of overall revenue with Q4 2025 revenue of $137 million and full-year 2025 revenue of $541 million.
3. Frequency Control Products: Quartz crystals, oscillators, TCXO, VCXO, OCXO, and RF filters providing timing and synchronization solutions. CTS is one of the first companies to commercialize quartz crystals for electronics (1942) and offers over 350 standard RF filter products.
4. Piezoelectric Components: Piezoelectric components and transducers used in medical imaging, therapeutic ultrasound, and HIFU applications. The company has over 60 years of experience in the piezoelectric industry.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CTS Corporation designs and manufactures sensors (current, position, and temperature sensors), actuators including pedals and foot controls, frequency control products (quartz crystals, clock oscillators, OCXO, TCXO, VCXO), ceramic monoblock RF filters and band-pass filters, piezoelectric components and transducers, and electromechanical switches. The company supplies these components to OEMs serving aerospace and defense, medical, industrial, transportation, data center, and robotics markets, with sales generated through a global distributor network and direct enterprise sales force.

Product overview

CTS Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of sensors, actuators, and electronic components organized into a comprehensive product portfolio. The core offerings include: (1) Sensors category comprising Current Sensors (including CTS-CS-CXX clamp-on sensors integrated with Melexis IMC-Hall technology), Position Sensors, and Temperature Sensors (thermistors, probes, glass-encapsulated); (2) Passive Components including Mechanical Encoders (11CE, 12CE, 288, 290 series) and Optical Encoders (291, 291A, 292, 293 series with up to 3M cycle life); (3) Frequency Control Products encompassing Clock Oscillators (as small as 1.6x1.2mm, up to 2.1GHz), Crystals, OCXO, TCXO/VCTCXO, and VCXO; (4) Ceramic Monoblock RF Filters with 350+ standard band-pass filters plus duplexers and low-pass filters; (5) Piezoelectric Products for medical imaging and HIFU transducers; (6) Actuators; (7) Switches including pushbutton and tactile switches; (8) Pedals & Foot Controls featuring the Series 552 accelerator pedal. The portfolio also includes acquired brand maglab AG (Swiss magnetic/position/current sensors) and a Cross Reference Tool for product matching. The company serves aerospace/defense, industrial, medical, transportation, and data center/robotics markets across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Current Sensors Devices for monitoring, controlling, protecting and optimizing electrical systems, including the CTS-CS-CXX clamp-on PCB-mount magnetic field concentrators that integrate Melexis IMC-Hall technology to measure currents up to 200A with 1% accuracy for industrial and automotive OEMs.
• Position Sensors Sensors that measure rotational and linear position for automotive, industrial, and aerospace applications.
• Temperature Sensors High-quality temperature sensors including thermistors, temperature probes, and glass-encapsulated sensors used in medical diagnostics, industrial, and automotive applications.
• Actuators Electromechanical devices that convert electrical signals into physical movement, used in various industrial and automotive applications.
• Pedals & Foot Controls Accelerator pedals and foot control systems for heavy-duty vehicles, anchored by the Series 552 contacting accelerator pedal with 150+ million units delivered across the pedal portfolio and proven OEM track record.
• Quartz Crystals Crystal resonators including the TSX Crystal with Integrated Thermistor spanning 16 MHz to 285 MHz with active frequency compensation for telecommunications, automotive, industrial, medical, and networking applications.
• Clock Oscillators (XO) Crystal oscillators in packages as small as 1.6x1.2mm with frequencies up to 2.1 GHz, offering HCMOS, LVPECL, LVDS, and HCSL outputs for IoT, GNSS, microcontrollers, FPGAs, and data communications.
• PLL-Based Crystal Oscillators (CC and CV Series) CC Series clock oscillators (XO) and CV Series voltage-controlled oscillators (VCXO) utilizing the latest PLL IC technology, covering frequencies up to 2.1 GHz with ultra-low jitter, in three compact hermetically sealed ceramic SMD package sizes with HCMOS or LVPECL and LVDS differential outputs.
• Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXO) High-performance OCXOs with enhanced phase noise performance, including the Series 139 compliant to Stratum 3E per GR-1244-CORE, available in surface mount or through-hole packages, and ultra-low-power 120mW designs for battery-powered applications.
• TCXO & VCTCXO Temperature compensated crystal oscillators with stabilities as low as 0.05 ppm, temperature ranges up to -40°C to 105°C, designed for 5G mmWave and other precision timing applications.
• VCXO (Voltage-Controlled Crystal Oscillators) Voltage-controlled oscillators with frequencies up to 2.1 GHz and best-in-class jitter performance, with customer-accessible external voltage control pin for frequency adjustment to ±150 ppm pullability.
• Ceramic Monoblock RF Filters High-performance RF filters including band-pass, low-pass, duplexers, and triplexers with ultra-low insertion loss, tight group delay, and high rejection performance for aerospace, defense, telecom, and industrial markets.
• Band-Pass Filters Over 350 standard band-pass filter products for wireless transmitting and receiving applications across aviation, aerospace, defense and public safety sectors.
• AEC-Q200 Qualified Crystals and Oscillators Automotive grade frequency control devices designed to operate under high temperatures (up to 150°C) and mechanical stress, tested to AEC-Q200 standards for automotive applications including infotainment, ADAS, and EV battery management.
• Optical Encoders Non-contacting optical encoder solutions including Series 291, 291A, 292, and 293 with rotational life up to 3 million cycles, used in medical, industrial automation, and automotive applications.
• Mechanical Encoders Cost-effective contacting encoder solutions including Series 11CE, 12CE, 288, and 290 with up to 50,000 cycle life for consumer and industrial applications.
• Piezoelectric Components and Transducers Piezoelectric components, transducers, and materials including HIFU focusing bowls and plates with frequencies 1-20 MHz and custom PZT materials (Pz26, Pz52, Pz54) optimized for high coupling factors and low losses, used in medical imaging, therapeutic ultrasound, and HIFU applications.
• Switches Pushbutton switches, tactile switches, and key switches for various control applications including medical, industrial, and consumer electronics.
• maglab AG Magnetic System and Current Measurement Solutions Swiss-based magnetic system design and current measurement products including magnetic shields, cores, shunts, current sensors, and current transformers for e-mobility, robotics, automation, and renewable energy applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% year-over-year sales increase in medical market segment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• maglab AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2023CTS acquired maglab AG, a Swiss magnetic system design and current measurement solution provider headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 2011, maglab designs and manufactures magnetic shields, cores, shunts, current sensors, and current transformers for e-mobility, robotics, automation, and renewable energy industries.
• TEWA Temperature Sensors SP. Zo.o.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2022CTS acquired TEWA Temperature Sensors SP. Zo.o., a Polish designer and manufacturer of high-quality temperature sensors, for USD 24.5 million. The acquisition supports CTS's end market diversification strategy and expands its presence in Europe.
• MelexiscoreTechnology or IntegrationCTS clamp-on current sensors work in conjunction with Melexis IMC-Hall technology that utilizes the Hall-effect to convert magnetic field around a conductor into a voltage signal proportional to current. This technology partnership enables accurate current sensing up to 200A with 1% accuracy.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Sensata Technologies: Sensata is a direct peer: a global manufacturer of sensors, electrical protection, and control solutions serving transportation, industrial, and aerospace & defense OEMs. Highly comparable on current/position/temperature sensors and on heavy-duty vehicle pedal/actuator content.
• Vishay Intertechnology: Vishay is a direct peer among discrete semiconductors and passive components — resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors — sold through distribution for industrial, automotive, military, and medical applications; overlaps CTS in sensor and frequency-control product categories.
• Qorvo: Qorvo is a direct competitor in RF filters and front-end modules for aerospace, defense, and advanced wireless infrastructure — directly comparable to CTS's ceramic monoblock band-pass, duplexer, and X-band (6–12 GHz) RF filter families targeting SATCOM and radar.
• Knowles Corporation: Knowles designs specialty components including acoustic/sensor products and precision electronic components sold to industrial, medical, and aerospace OEMs — overlapping CTS on switches, encoders, and high-reliability components for medical and industrial applications.

Broad incumbents

• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity is a broad incumbent in sensors, connectors, and electronic components serving transportation, industrial, medical, and aerospace/defense — overlapping CTS end-markets with a much larger product portfolio and similar go-to-market through global distribution and direct OEM sales.
• Murata Manufacturing: Murata is a broad incumbent dominating ceramic capacitors, RF filters, sensors, and timing devices for communications, automotive, and industrial — directly comparable in frequency control (crystals, oscillators), piezoelectric, and RF filter segments where CTS competes.
• Amphenol: Amphenol is a broad incumbent interconnect, sensor, and antenna provider serving automotive, industrial, military/aerospace, and medical; comparable to CTS on the electronic components and sensing side, though weighted toward connectors and cable assemblies.
• Honeywell International: Honeywell is a broad incumbent with sensing, controls, and aerospace products serving industrial, building, defense, and transportation — comparable to CTS on industrial sensors, position/current sensing, and aerospace & defense filter/instrumentation categories.
• Kyocera AVX: Kyocera AVX (formerly AVX) is a broad incumbent passive component manufacturer producing capacitors, resistors, filters, RF components, and sensors for automotive, industrial, telecom, and military — directly comparable in RF filters and passives alongside CTS's frequency control portfolio.

Emerging players

• Microchip Technology: Microchip manufactures microcontrollers, timing ICs, oscillators, and frequency control products for industrial, automotive, aerospace and networking — directly comparable on clock oscillators, OCXOs, and timing solutions for 5G and data center infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cts_corporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cts-corporation

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CTS Corporation